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I've been reflecting on the powerful current of transformation that is whipping through our lives right now. Can you feel it? Many of us are being asked to change in unprecedented ways. The message from the Universe lately seems to be that change is inevitable whether by choice or coercion: which would you like?

Far-flung and deep-reaching changes affecting every form of life on the planet challenge us to face the myriad ways in which we have meticulously disconnected ourselves from our environment, ourselves, and each other.

When the worldwide economic crisis first unfolded two years ago, the conventional reaction was to armor up with protection to survive. That armor may have taken on the form of denial, withdrawal or attack.  Some of us chose to pretend that the stark realities of life simply don’t exist and therefore don’t require a response from us – resorting to a pathological form of mind of matter. Some bunkered down and withdrew from the flow of life, nursing their deep-seated fears and anxieties from a place of isolation. And others found temporary solidarity in finding scapegoats to blame: the government, the president, big companies, and the like.  

While offering temporary respite, these three reactions all avoid the need to take personal responsibility.  It is a bit like eating cheesecake every day and then blaming someone else for the fact that you have gained ten pounds!

None of these approaches are effective, because they remove us from personal responsibility and dunk us into a place of powerlessness. In order to effectively respond to crisis, we first need to acknowledge our part in it.  Each one of us has participated to some extent in the actions, individually and collectively, that brought us to this place.  Only when we accept this reality as our baseline, can we start making appropriate choices to move ourselves and the collective into a more appropriate direction.

The responsibility-avoiding tactics of denial, withdrawal & attack do not make us immune to chaos and crisis. Instead, they incapacitate us from being proactive and keep us stuck in the role of victim.  When we block out reality around us, we also block out the potential for meaningful change.

Meaningful change requires that we honestly face what is, so that we can choose how to respond in proactive ways instead of reacting blindly. We need to stop asking why, and accept the current reality which is. The paradox is that we need to first have a conscious awareness of a situation in order to be able to address it. And that process requires that we let our guard down and take the blindfold off.  

When we navigate through life consciously, something remarkable happens.  We see the hardship and we feel the pain of circumstances, but we are able to reach through these to connect with the Divine Presence beyond. In the midst of crisis and change, we are able to sink beneath the appearance of crisis to reach a deep awareness of inner peace.  In the midst of chaos and upheaval, we can sense our connection to the Eternal Source.  And from that place, we can respond to circumstances from a place of faith, instead of reacting from a place of fear.

What does an appropriate response look like?  It needs to address the factual content of the challenge and it needs to honor the integrity of the context. An appropriate response may require you to get more factual information upfront.  It may require that you listen to your gut or your inner guidance. It may require that you face some very unpleasant facts: facing up to personal mistakes made, or acknowledging areas of neglect in your life. It may require that you assess your life and get rid of energy drains: areas of unnecessary conflict or relationships that you have outgrown to create space for other options. It may require that you ask for help from a trusted friend, therapist or other professional.  It may even require that you extend yourself outside your comfort zone: short-selling your home or looking for additional work to supplement your income.  An appropriate response may include some or all of these steps, yet it will be driven by faith and not by fear.

Times of crisis and change offer us opportunities for unprecedented growth. What initially feels like a cycle of dying to the old, eventually gives way to a rebirth.  The quality of rebirth depends on how you process the cycle of death and release.  In my own life, I have experienced this cycle of death and rebirth many time, including the past year.  This universal law of death and rebirth applies to all of us - so keep the faith during the cycles of death and decline in your life. Rebirth is sure to follow!

During times of chaos and upheaval, it is normal to feel a sense of disconnection and fear. We have a choice over how we will respond. We do not need another layer of reactionary denial, withdrawal or attack to protect us.

A healthier response is to consciously participate with this cycle of death and change by letting go of the old ways, things and situations that have outlived their purpose. 

We can open our hearts wider, cultivate our faith and reconnect to our Higher truth.  From that place, we can respond proactively to the powerful current of transformation sweeping our planet.  When the old has been cleared away, rebirth is sure to follow.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com  This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

Are you joyful today? Are you savoring life’s sweetness, or have the challenges confronting you crowded out your joy?

Joy is an essential part of life.  It brings new hope and meaning, energizing our actions.  The more intense our challenges, the greater our need for joy. And yet, we often get so busy that we neglect the things in life that renew joy.

If you are not exactly dancing through the daisies, don’t despair! Joy can be renewed – and indeed must be nurtured – to provide a counterpoint to life’s harsher realities.

When we are preoccupied with looming deadlines, economic challenges and physical setbacks, it is easy to lose perspective.  That loss of perspective allows joy to slip through the cracks, leaving us feeling flat and enervated.

Recently I had one of those days where it was difficult to find joy in things around me. A few friends were in the hospital, I had learned of three others who had just been diagnosed with cancer, a work project had gotten bogged down in bureaucratic paperwork, an unexpected setback resulted in huge bills not budgeted for, and plans for a much-needed getaway needed to be canceled...... get the picture?

The avalanche of developments left me feeling reeling.  Where does one even start to address the chaos?

I needed to disengage to get clarity and perspective. Stepping into the lush green of my back garden, I was greeted by a chorus of bird song. That’s when it hit me: These birds don’t know where their food will come from each new day – they sing and chirp from a place of innate trust. They trust in the provision of a benevolent universe.

Jesus reminded his disciples that not even a sparrow falls from heaven without their Creator’s knowledge. Likewise, even the hairs on our heads are known and numbered by that loving Presence.

As I took time out from the hectic demands of life, I felt the cool breeze on my skin.  A beautiful butterfly fluttered around the geraniums, and I saw a baby gecko emerging from the vine to sip from a water drop on a blade of grass. In the corner, a humming bird was bathing in the very top of the fountain, tossing the water over its tiny body with one wing and then shaking it off before repeating on the other side.

Little things, and yet they had a huge impact on me.  I realized that joy is always available in the small things of life – we simply get too busy and distracted to notice.

Even when faced by huge issues in life, we can reconnect to joy by noticing and appreciating little things:  the friendliness of a checkout clerk, a handwritten note from a friend, the warmth of a child’s hand, the furry love of a pet, the restorative beauty of nature, the taste of fresh strawberries, the comfort of a bed at the end of the day…

The makings of joy are all around us, waiting to be discovered. They are everywhere in little things that truly matter. Together, they add up to restore our joy. Next time you feel overwhelmed, take time to connect to the little things, and you will find your joy renewed.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com  This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

One of the challenges of the spiritual life is to remember our Source at all times: during good times, but especially during those times when we feel most undeserving, unworthy and blocked.

When circumstances threaten to overwhelm us, our eyes can move off the goal and onto those frightful circumstances… and all of a sudden, we may feel very small, alone and separate.

In that space of feeling insignificant, we tend to retreat from others, and we step out of the flow of life. We shut out the flow of love and blessing, filled with emotions of dread instead. 

But there’s more to life than the ups and downs of your changing emotions!

You see, when we allow our emotions to lead the way, we set ourselves up for a rollercoaster ride.  Our emotions change with the weather (or sometimes because of it)!

The truth is that you are not your emotions.

You are the consciousness in which emotions surface and subside like small waves on the ocean.  Just as the ocean is not affected by the rise and fall of the waves on its surface, you need not be affected by your emotions… provided that you identify not with your emotions, but with your True nature.

Your True nature is consciousness or Spirit.  It emerged out of the Allness of Divinity to experience and express itself through physicality.

You are not your physicality; instead, physicality is simply the medium through which you choose to express yourself in this life.  You are not your emotions, either; your emotions are the wave forms of expression inherent to the physical experience.

The findings of science and spirituality concur in that we are more than the physical world in which we live. 

Quantum physicist David Bohm expressed existence as an interconnected hologram where each particle contains a perfect representation of the whole; the totality of the whole being implicated in the order of its parts.

You and I proceeded from this Implicate Order into individualized or expression, yet we remain connected to each other and to the Whole.

When the circumstances of your individual experience appear overwhelming, try to remember that you are connected to that Whole, the Source where all begins and to which everything ultimately returns.

Remembering your Source restores your awareness of your true nature and power.  It aligns you to the Origin of all life and possibilities.

Looking at life from that place of connection, things look different. Instead of seeing the divide between you and success, health or other people, you can now focus on the common ground connecting you… and in seeing that, reach out in new and different ways. 

When your remember your connection to your Source, you can choose new actions and outcomes that more accurately reflect your Higher nature.

This is the inner space where miracles happen!

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com  This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

There is a world of difference in the approaches to healing found in western allopathic medicine and in traditional Chinese medicine.  In the Western world, physicians are trained to separate mental, physical and emotional symptoms to address the root cause of an illness. In contrast, Chinese medicine views the patient as a whole, with all aspects interrelated.

Clearly, there is a time and a place for each approach; often, the best approach is a combination.  Numerous medical studies in the west have shown the correlation between emotional health and physical ailments such as heart disease, cancer and autoimmune disorders. 

In Chinese medicine, feeling any emotion intensely is considered an imbalance. When there is balance among mind, body and spirit, every experience is processed in a natural, fluid way. This allows one to experience the full range of emotions without getting stuck in any one area. Stuck emotions block energy flow and can lead to illness.

Chinese medicine associates each organ with an emotional spectrum. To restore balance in the body, an organ or system is treated along with the predominant emotion linked to that particular organ.

For example, the kidneys are associated with strength and willpower - and on the negative end of the spectrum, with fear. The lungs and respiratory system are connected to our sense of order and stores a range of emotion that can range from perfectionism at one extreme to grief at the opposite end.  The liver supports planning and decision-making - skills needed to manage life well. At the far end of the spectrum, the liver also stores feelings of anger. The heart represents the center of body and soul; the emotions associated with this organ range from sadness to joy. The stomach can store emotions ranging from sympathy to worry.

These emotional-physical ties are not quite as simplistic as presented here to illustrate the principle.  In practice, it takes into consideration a number of other interrelated factors that assist in identifying areas of imbalance and restoring balance to all levels of being.

At its core, traditional Chinese medicine holds that all disease indicates a need for change in one of three basic areas of life - physical, emotional or lifestyle.

When we resist this need or do not know how to make the necessary change, it sets up conflict that expresses as symptoms of illness. By facing the issues that life brings your way and being willing to address them, you can eliminate energy drains and blockages.

This comprehensive approach offers many valuable guidelines to promote health and well-being in body, mind and spirit. A few of these concepts are offered here - integrating some of these concepts into your life can reward you with more balance and well-being.

Live in harmony with the seasons. The winter months are valuable for rest and rejuvenation; in the spring, we ramp up activity. Summer is an appropriate time to expand and expend energy in many activities, while in autumn we can benefit by slowing down, evaluating and retreating from excess activity.

Follow the light.  Before the invention of electricity, people got up at sunrise and went to bed soon after sunset.  This instinct to follow light is a good one - it has been shown to increase longevity and protect health.  Early morning exercise can increase cellular oxygen and boos the metabolism all day long for increased productivity.  By evening, it is helpful to switch to relaxing activities that allows one to unwind and prepares the body for sleep.

When illness sets in, respect your body and mind - take time off to heal.  Instead of popping medication at the first onset of a cold, for instance, it is a good idea to tough it out (within reason, of course). Let the cough and congestion run their course naturally, so your body can rid itself of pathogens and toxins. Use natural substances such as water, whole fresh foods and spices to strengthen your body and provide the resources required for recovery.

Recognize that disease may be happening for a reason. Illness may be an indication of working or playing too hard, or of lack of proper self-care.  Use the symptoms of disease as a wakeup call to review behavioral or lifestyle patterns, and make the necessary adjustments to restore balance.

Remember, true healing always involves increasing awareness. Illness is a call and an opportunity to evaluate your internal state. Medication may sedate painful symptoms, but true healing requires you to evaluate the choices that brought you to your current situation so that you can make different choices. Are you heartsick about something... suffering from anxiety... or feeling stuck in a work or relationship situation?  When you identify the issues that are creating toxicity in your life, you can make healthier choices to help you heal in every way.

Use daily reflection as a conscious tool to balance your energy. Think about what things are truly important to you and how you are using your energy to work toward those goals. Differentiate between essential needs and things that don’t really matter.  This process will free up your time and energy to focus on what truly matters in your life. 

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

"We sometimes feel that what we do
is just a drop in the ocean, but the
ocean would be less because of that
missing drop." -- Mother Teresa

One of the reasons that we get intimidated by the process of living, is that we think our part is not grand enough.

After all, the movers and shakers featured in the media are usually pretty big and powerful. We hear about philanthropists such as Bill Gates who spends millions to find a cure for malaria, or larger-than-life personalities like Oprah who has touched the lives of millions more with her daily show.

When we compare our small beginnings and meager efforts to these icons, we may feel so insignificant that we give up. We cringe as the inner critic whispers, ‘Who are you to think that you can change things out there when you haven’t even mastered your own health, or finances, or relationships?’

We compare our own weaknesses to the strengths of others and when it feels too overwhelming, we give up. And so we forget that we are an integral part of a larger whole; a precious drop in the ocean of life. Yet when we give up on our dreams, the whole world misses out!

We think that we have to be big, powerful or perfect before we can make a difference. And so we disqualify ourselves before we even start.

Here’s an important truth to remember: you do not have to be big, powerful or perfect to make a difference in the world – you simply have to be willing!

When we focus on our limitations, we fail to notice that those individuals who make a difference in the world, do so despite their own weaknesses. Their lives are not perfect; yet they have made a commitment to argue for their potential and not for their liabilities!

And while critics like to point out their limitations, these brave souls make a meaningful contribution to the world because they choose to focus on what they can do despite these limitations. Andrea Bocelli became one of the finest vocalists of our time despite the fact that he is blind. Mother Teresa founded an order that ministers to the sick and dying worldwide despite the fact that she never had a university education. Nelson Mandela became the leader of a nation, guiding millions away from racist politics and toward equality, despite the fact that he had become estranged from his wife after he’d spent 26 years in prison.

These people made – and continue to make – a difference in the world. Their contributions to society are like precious drops of water that raises the level of the ocean for everyone. And they made a difference despite their personal weaknesses, limitations or liabilities!

In this field of consciousness known as the human condition, we are all interconnected. The struggles of others affect us, yet so also are we uplifted by their greatness. Life offers us the opportunity to tap into our greatness and to contribute that drop to the ocean of human consciousness so everyone can be uplifted by it.

Life does not require you to become rich, or perfect, or famous in order to make a difference. It simply requires you to start.

Start with small steps you can take day by day. What is your heart calling you to do? Which one person can you reach out to today? What small step can you take to contribute your drop to the ocean of life?

Recognize the small ways in which you can make a difference. Feel the fear and self-doubt, and then take that step to contribute anyway. 

That’s how greatness is born: knowing that you can make a meaningful difference despite areas of your life that are still in process. Look past your limitations and act from your potential. The world is awaiting your gifts!

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

Asking for help is not something we do naturally. Instead, we often choose to ignore pain, hope for a better day, or wish for a miracle... while avoiding the core issue! 

Reaching out for help may feel like a cop out - the way of the weak. In a society that worships power, needing help can be associated with vulnerability, weakness or shame; and so our fears of rejection and embarrassment get in the way.

In reality, the only real weakness is NOT asking for help. If you have already tried everything you know and the situation has not shifted, you may need external input.

We all have strengths in some areas and challenges in others. The smartest people I know understand that they do not know everything, and seek to fill those gaps in their knowledge or ability with people who do.

Life is about learning and growth – and in the process, we all need help from time to time along the tricky patches. Beyond each challenge awaits an opportunity for growth; and by asking for help when we need it, we discover solutions, gain new insights, and ultimately empower ourselves.

When you reach out and ask, you are acknowledging the interconnectedness of life. You also open up to the possibility that help is available and that there are answers out there, often exceeding your highest hopes! Here's how to get help when you feel stuck:

The help you need is more likely to arrive if you ask for it! Keeping your problems under wraps does nothing to resolve them, so why not do something positive about it?

Asking for help lets you manage your energy more effectively. Life balance is all about managing your energy. When you ask for help with a difficulty, it frees up more energy for other areas of your life.

It opens opportunities to connect to others in new ways. Asking for help makes others aware of how they can support you and strengthens interpersonal ties.

When you ask for help, you open the door to learning. By opening up to input from others, you expand your own growth and awareness.

By breaking through fear and facing the challenge of asking, you reclaim your power! Your greatest gifts lie just beyond the things you fear the most – so ask for help even when you fear the repercussions.

Another important aspect of finding help lies in knowing how  to ask for it. Here are a few tips to keep in mind the next time you need help:

Ask for help as soon as you realize you need it. Ignored problems often escalate and become huge issues that drain vast amounts of energy and resources.

Recognize that you deserve a helping hand. We are all in the school of life together, and when you ask for help, you are offering others an opportunity to demonstrate what they have already learned. In supporting one another, we all benefit and grow.

Accept that you have nothing to lose except your fear. If the person you approach can help, you’ll learn from the experience. If they turn you down, you can approach another.

Go to someone you trust. If they don’t have the answer, they’ll likely know someone who does.

Be clear on what you need. The proven words are, “I need your help.” Simple and to the point!

Give the person as much detail as possible. Even if you don’t understand what the exact problem is, document what you know about the circumstances as well as what you need.

Get a commitment. Ask if they are able to support you and in what capacity. Getting a commitment will set your mind at ease and alleviate a lot of stress. Even if they cannot help you themselves, they may offer valuable suggestions or refer you to someone who can help. Either way, you’ll benefit!

When you find the solution to your problem, document it for future reference. You might run into that problem again someday when no-one is around to help, or you might be able to pass along the information to someone else in need.

The next time you feel overwhelmed and don't know what to do, don't suffer in silence. Remember that you may simply need a boost to get unstuck or to find the appropriate solution. Then ask despite your fears, and focus on the rewards of learning from the experience.

Having a healthy approach help opens the door to much more than just the help you needed.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

I just got a new computer, which set into motion a sea change in my world. It feels as if I’ve moved into a huge new mansion with all kinds of fabulous things to explore. But first, there are lots of upgrades, compatibility issues and glitches to troubleshoot in order to get to that comfy, settled-in feeling.

And that is just one area of life! Some days it feels as if I am in a little canoe, paddling as fast as I can through a swift-running current of change that sweeps through every area of life, trying to stay focused and maintain perspective. Know what I mean?

This sea change of turbulence and movement is not confined to our electronic lives only. It is like a tsunami of information, technology, social and economic change that continues to expands as it sweeps though our lives. No area of life is exempt. For some, it has taken on the form of job loss and financial overwhelm; for others, it is showing up as a re-ordering of priorities in relationships or a crumbling of the dreams you’d had for your life.

People everywhere are looking for ways to manage the swelling tide of change: they look for better time management, financial management, relationship management, weight management, career management, and more.

The fact is, though, we cannot ‘manage’ any of those things. We don’t manage time. Time simply clicks by, second by second, whether we do anything or not. What we do manage is ourselves and our choices in every given moment.

We are the ones choosing what to do and be involved in. And so, the most important thing we can manage is ourselves! How, then, can we best manage ourselves during these dynamic times of shift and change? Here are seven tools for self-management:

1. Know Your Priorities.
Do you know what the top values and priorities in your life are? Are you clear on the purpose of your life? Are you clear on what you want to accomplish and what is needed to get there? Only after you know these things can you choose appropriate action that will carry you toward your purpose.

2. Focus On The Big Picture.
When we feel overwhelmed, our focus tends to narrow down until we have a myopic view of life in which we seem awfully small and insignificant against the intimidating demands of life. It’s the ant and the elephant syndrome. Argue for your limitations, and they will surely become insurmountable obstacles. Focus on your problems, and they are sure to expand.

Instead of focusing on all the worrisome details of your life, try moving your perspective to a higher viewpoint from where you can see the big picture. I often use a guided visualization with clients where they soar high above their problems on the wings of a giant eagle. This exercise helps them to pull out of the immediacy of their surroundings and to gain a broader perspective.

3. Look For The Message.
The painful symptoms in our lives are messengers to remind us that something is off balance, misaligned, or no longer constructive. Instead of numbing these messengers in your life with medication or denial, you may want to take a look at what is causing the frustration or pain. What choices did you make to bring you to this place? Were your choices based on limited knowing, resulting in limiting outcomes? You will become a lot more constructive when you stop looking for someone to blame and acknowledge that you have the power to bring about the very change you desire.

4. Choose Again.
When you see the process that led you to this place, you are free to choose to move into a new direction. Remember, one of the greatest gifts God gave us is the ability to choose. You can choose to manage yourself appropriately by aligning more and more with your true values, so you can be carried forward on the current of instead of fighting against it. Situations, choices and relationships that are no longer aligned with our values and priorities have served their purpose and deserve to be released with gratitude for the lessons they offered. When you cut the cords, you will also free yourself from the pain and frustration that comes from being out of alignment with your path.

5. Finish With A Flurry.
Ever watch how many people start a marathon, yet how few complete it? Anyone can start the race, yet the rewards go to the few who actually finish. Unfinished business clutters up our time, space and energy.
I've found that multi-tasking can be a trap. The more open projects there are, the fewer get finished and the less you are present to what may unfold in each moment.

When you multitask by texting while driving, you are not focused on the road. When you answer e-mail while spending time with your loved one, your behavior actually silently says, ‘You are not worthy of my full attention.’

If your top priority is worth doing, it is worth focusing on that project until it's done. There will always be smaller routine tasks to do, too, but being fully present to the task at hand makes you efficient and effective to bring it to completion. Doing that gives offers a sense of accomplishment.

6. Learn To Say No With A Smile.
Here is where most of us fail. We feel so guilty or pressured to oblige every demand for our time and resources, that we do not say no to those things that are not a matter of priority. Saying no to what is not essential, frees up your time, energy and resources for what truly matters. And no is a complete response – you do not need to justify your decision to anyone but yourself. Evaluate demands for your time and resources against your priorities. Then, say ‘yes’ when you can do so with a happy heart, and say ‘no’ without guilt. You will find yourself staying more buoyant in life’s current.

7. Keep It Simple.
In my own life, I have whittled down the process even more. Yes, I do have an overarching mission statement for my life and yes, I am clear in my intentions. However, to stay focused and effective, I also prioritize my involvement. Within the larger framework of my plan and purpose, I ask two simple questions to guide my choices:

• Is this essential to my survival, life or health right now? Everything else, no matter how important or pressing it seems, is secondary.
• Will this lead me closer to my ultimate truth and joy, or does it leave me feeling restricted and confined? Momentary discipline that moves you closer to your ultimate goal, is acceptable; anything that minimizes your true being is not.

There may still be days when you feel as if you spend all your time chasing after the endless demands of life. We all have those! As long as you use these tools to stay focused, the turbulence around you will not capsize your canoe.

Keep facing forward and keep paddling!

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

Would you like to see more love blossoming in your life? If you're like most people, the answer is a resounding "yes."

We all can use more love and less complaining, more joy and fewer problems, right?

Valentine's Day offers you a perfect opportunity to attract more love into your life by giving thanks for the love you already have.

You see, the simple attitude of gratitude is one of the most powerful quantum energies for manifestation. Energy flows to whatever you focus on and makes it grow.

How much time do you spend in genuine gratitude? In any given day, we tend to notice the things that don't work, that derail or rub us the wrong way. How uplifting is that?!

In our relationships, we are prone to notice what doesn't work, and we ignore the brilliant parts that DO. This Valentine's Day, why not resolve to turn that habit around?

Expressing genuine appreciation for what you have and enjoy each day will make it grow. If you want more love in your life, then, you can make it grow by expressing gratitude for the blessings you already have.

You can give the world no greater gift than to focus on gratitude and make love blossom in your relationships through your genuine appreciation.

Just think of all the things each day that you are grateful for: the smell of coffee to get you going in the morning, a warm shower, sunshine in your face, tantalizing flavors, the ability to breathe, walk and talk, unsolicited appreciation for your efforts? There is so much in life to be grateful for!

Expressing true gratitude is not schmaltzy or superficial. It involves genuinely heartfelt, eyeball-to-eyeball or heart-to-heart connection. In other words, gratitude involves appreciation that is delivered with real meaning rather than some perfunctory mumblings or syrupy platitudes.

Once you start noticing the beauty of life around you, gratitude and love grows. Right now, take a few moments and consider all the relationships you are grateful for.

Reflect on the qualities you appreciate in each of your relatives and friends: the smile on a child's face, the hug of a loved one, the spontaneous playfulness of friend.

Do you appreciate these things? Then express gratitude for the qualities you see and their presence will grow in your life!

I encourage you to go a step beyond that even: write a note of gratitude to the people who have touched your life. Express to them what you love about them and how it makes you feel.

You may have just found the spark to let love blossom in your life year round!

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

The coming year will reshape the destinies of every human being on this planet. Simply stated, the forces guiding your life will make it a pivotal year of global and personal transformation.

Why? Because they are already doing that right now!

The essential question each of us should ask is, "How will the forces guiding my life affect me in the next year?"

Because whatever you are working on in your life, is already working on you.  Over the course of time, these forces will shape your life both on the surface and from within.

Nobody’s life is the same at the end of a year – any year - as it is at the beginning. You are building your life from the inside out even as it is working on you.  What are you planning to work on in the coming year?  Getting clear on the purpose and plan for your soul is essential because it will ultimately direct where you end up over the course of the next year.

Business philosopher Jim Rohn put it this way: "If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you. Whatever good things we build, will end up building us."

These are some very profound lessons to be gleaned here.  

First is that life is a process, not a destination. Every year is simply a measure of life, a slice of the big picture. Instead of falling into the trap of reductionism and reducing life to a game of basic outcomes, why not become more conscious of the process, the journey?

After all, you are building a life, not just a year! The kind of life you build is going to be determined by the kind of goals and plans you work on, because they'll work on you.

And that's the second lesson: Your choice of goals and plans mean much more than just what you accomplish. You are choosing what you're becoming, too!

Deepak Chopra has said that the activities on the surface of our lives distract us from the deeper work of soul making. You do not need to caught up in the busy-ness of life to the detriment of your soul!  This year, resolve to see your life as a sacred process of soul making. Let that Higher awareness guide your vision of life’s journey. You are not meant to simply ACHIEVE something, you are here to BECOME something.  And that process happens along the way, not at some magical destination.

The third lesson is this: it's not just the good things we build that matter, it’s anything we build. They all work on us.

So if you use shame, blame, guilt or fear as building blocks for your life, that's what you’ll ultimately have. If you are avoiding the effort of introspection, personal honesty and spiritual alignment, you may think you're not building anything, but you are – and you’re not going to like the result, so why even go there?

On the other hand, if you build toward your highest potential, you facilitate the unfolding of your best life ever.

Reaching your highest potential is your soul's ultimate purpose, and it is revealed to you within the context of seeking to fulfill your highest potential, service and creativity.  Its beauty will radiate from your core when you seriously engage in the work of healing the wounded psyche by dispelling the stories of your past with Truth.

These are skills that need to guide your life now more than ever, for they will reveal the true blueprint of your life. They will direct your path, your purpose and your potential to bring about the highest unfolding of your life.

So if you’re going to build something in your life during the next twelve months, make it something that you like and respect. It'll make YOU someone that you like and respect!

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

For the holiday table, I pulled out my favorite festive candles – long, elegant hand-dipped tapers from the mystic city of Tsfad in Israel.

When I opened the box, I gasped with surprise to find their upper ends crooked and bent. Then I remembered: the last time I moved internationally, my household belongings were shipped through the Panama Canal to meet up with me in Arizona. These candles were part of the shipment that slowly traveled through the sluices in equatorial heat.

Remembering the long journey they had come, I looked at the candles with more interest. Indeed, they appeared like two solitary figurines, remolded by the intensity of the journey they had come. Indeed, they represented a metaphor of life experienced by many of us: outwardly, we may appear a little worse for wear from the intensity of our journey; bruised, bent and changed, yet not broken.

With their crooked tips, the prospects for clean burning did not look too promising. And yet, these courageous little travelers had managed to arrive in one piece. I decided to light them anyway and see how they would do.

Imagine my delight when their flames reached gently upward, despite the damaged wax.  Soft light radiated from the elegant tapers as the flames consumed the crooked wax. The setbacks of their journey were now transformed into a gentle glow that filled the room.

That’s when it hit me: the light from a crooked candle remains pure at its core. Its external appearance truly does not diminish its function or beauty.

Are you feeling like a crooked candle, bowed down under the burdens of your life? 

You may even appear a little bruised and bent from your life’s journey. And yet, your potential for being a beacon of pure light remains untarnished within.

The potential to transform the world exists within you, despite the knocks that life has handed you.

Your highest purpose is to be a beacon of light, allowing the radiance of your Source to transform darkness into light. This Divine potential within is the greatest gift you have to offer. It can transform fear into trust, despair into hope, and sadness into warmth and cheer.

Do you feel bowed down, overwhelmed by the burdens of life?  Stretched to the max? Then turn to Divinity within and reconnect to the perfection of your Source. You are not broken yet! Your potential may be constrained but it is not destroyed.

Let the Light of Divinity in you burn brightly. It will light your way and point the way for others to find their way toward light and truth.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.